On Friday, April 14, Joe American Horse announced on KILI Radio that
to be sovereign the tribe must act sovereign, so accordingly, he will
plant industrial hemp seeds on April 29, 2000 to advance the authority
of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in the matter of jurisdiction over tribal
lands.

Stating the USA does not make treaties with ethnic minorities but only
with other sovereigns, American Horse said he is prepared to exercise
the self-determination inherent in the Oglala Sioux Tribe as a
successor government under the Treaty of 1868.
Please distribute this press release far and wide.

Tribal Members are implementing a Tribal Ordinance
passed in 1998 that allows cultivation of industrial hemp on the
Reservation.

On Saturday April 29, 2000, the 132nd anniversary of the signing of
the Treaty of 1868, members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe will plant
industrial hemp at various locations on the Reservation. In July
1998, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council passed an ordinance defining
industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana (which is a controlled
substance under tribal law). The ordinance provides for the
cultivation and harvesting of industrial hemp on the Reservation.

The Slim Butte Land Use Association, which spearheaded the effort to
initiate industrial hemp production on the Reservation, looks forward
to the sustainable aspects of the crop. "It is very important to us
that we be able to grow a crop that allows us to live in balance with
Mother Earth," says Loretta Afraid-of-Bear Cook, Chair of the Slim
Butte LUA, "Hemp does not require any chemicals and it allows us to
start taking care of our people ourselves." The landowner association
is in the latter stages of building a house with materials primarily
of industrial hemp. While lack of adequate housing is a problem on
most reservations, it is particularly challenging on Pine Ridge where
tornadoes and heavy winds frequently destroy homes. President Bill
Clinton acknowledged the severity of the housing shortage during his
visit to Pine Ridge last summer, saying "There is no more crucial
building block for a strong community and a promising future than a
solid home."

"Industrial hemp is the key component to sustainable housing," said
Tom Cook, LUA Project Director for the house building project. "We
make hemp-based concrete that is lighter, stronger and easier to work
with than masonry concrete," he said, "Not only that, but we are
putting people to work here on the reservation with good jobs." The
house building project has employed eight people, and the Slim Butte
LUA intends to market its "Hempcrete" blocks to the building
industry. In addition, the LUA seeks to set up a handmade paper
making operation that will use parts of the hemp that do not go into
the block making.

"The people used to have the buffalo for our food, clothing and
shelter," said Joe American Horse, Program Manager for Slim Butte LUA
and former President of the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council, "now hemp can
do that for us." American Horse, whose grandfather was one of the
signers of the Treaty of 1868, explains, "What we are talking about is
industrial hemp; it is not a drug. In addition to providing Lakota
people an economic base, the cultivation of industrial hemp will
reduce our reliance on diminishing natural resources and contribute to
global ecological health. This is a way we can help our people and
our environment." Currently, American Horse serves as the Public
Relations Officer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.

When asked about the potential legal ramifications of the planting,
Slim Butte LUA attorney Thomas J. Ballanco said, "The right to
cultivate industrial hemp on the reservation is a secured treaty
right. Hemp was grown all around here in the 1800s." Ballanco, a
West Point graduate who authored the tribal ordinance expects no
interference from the federal government. "This issue does not
concern the U.S. government. Here we have a tribe exercising a
sovereign treaty right to provide jobs, homes and sustainability on
the reservation." Commenting on fellow West Pointer, and federal Drug
Czar, Gen. (Ret.) Barry McCaffrey's expected response, Ballanco said,
"If they teach cavalry officers anything at West Point, it is to
listen to your scouts, especially in Sioux country," said Ballanco,
himself a former Army scout. Making reference to West Pointer George
Custer who was wiped out along with his entire command in the battle
of Little Bighorn after he failed to listen to the scouts who warned
him not to attack. "I advised the tribe and the individual members
that this a legally protected treaty right," said Ballanco. "If the
General has a problem with this activity, then he can take that up
with me and not the tribe or its members."

American Horse said he is following up on the last words Clinton told
the Pine Ridge people: "We are doing everything we can to make your
empowerment zone work. But remember, there is nothing that we can do
except to help you to realize your own dreams. So I say to every
tribal leader here, we must share the vision and it must be
fundamentally yours - for your children and their future. If you will
give us that vision and work with us, we will achieve it."
10:00 a.m. 4/29 meet at hemp house in Slim Buttes, junction BIA routes
32 & 41.